One of the best activities for older people to do with their children, grandchildren, or just by themselves, is arts and crafts. Staying creative helps the mind stay focussed, sharp and happy. Studies have shown that creating something, even something small or simple, contributes to our feelings of self worth and self esteem. A sense of pride and accomplishment really raises the mood. With that in mind, we’ve compiled some of our favourite crafty ideas to get you started. So, read on for our top arts and crafts ideas!
Bird feeders
Create your own DIY birdfeeders, hang them by your window, on your balcony or in the garden, and watch the birds come! It’s all too easy to get lost within the 4 walls of your home, regardless of age. Interacting with nature soothes our souls and keeps us connected to the world around us. Follow these simple steps to create your own bird feeder.
- Take an old toilet roll (that has used up all its paper)
- Insert two small holes about 4 inches apart – on the same line
- Roll the toilet roll in peanut butter
- Then roll in birdseed
- Insert a string into the two holes and use to hang
- Watch as the birds come to your window!
Artistry Kits
Nowadays it’s ever so easy to create something beautiful if, like me, you sadly aren’t going to win a Turner prize any time soon! You can choose from a wide range of activity kits, but here’s some of our favourites.
- Colour by numbers – whether it’s colouring, watercolours or oil paints, create beautiful, wall-worthy pictures!
- Engraving – engraving kits are great fun. Simply scratch off the upper layer, following a pattern, to reveal beautiful engraving. Ideal for creating postcards to send to loved ones.
- Cross stitch kits – follow the stitch pattern and choose from a variety of difficulty levels, to create beautiful embroidery.
- Diamond painting – a relatively new phenomenon, diamond painting follows a paint by numbers structure; however, instead of paints, you use small gems. Each kit comes with a special tool to help you stick the gems to the correct place: fiddly, but worth it!
- Silk painting – these simple kits are fantastic for creating cards, pictures and bookmarks alike! Check out the fantastic range of templates available at Silkcraft. The silk allows you to make fantastic tie-dye creations, and the ‘gutta’ edges along the designs stop over-spill. It’s the perfect painting kit – maximum results for minimal effort!
Scrapbooking
Scrapbooking is gaining popularity with younger people, as well as remaining a firm favourite with older crafters. Not only is it simple, fun and active, it helps people remember special events and outings in their life. Consider using postcards, photos, menus, tickets – anything that will remind you of your event.
You can also get creative and upcycle old magazines to contribute to your scrapbooking efforts. Use images, recipes and stories to complement your memories.
